"Hopefully we can get this victory and secure our playoff spot and turn it back over to Chuck," Arians said this week.

"It will be great," rookie quarterback Andrew Luck said. "I'm sure it will be emotional for a lot of people. But when it comes, and hopefully soon, it'll be very nice to sort of have our head coach back."

The Colts have thrived under Arians, but the offensive coordinator-turned-commander has done this for his friend. It's easy to forget this team was prophesized by many as a two- or three-win outfit that would, if nothing else, struggle.